Student feedback v2.0

One of those things I have regrets not doing is keeping better records of student feedback over the 12 years I’ve lectured and taught at institutions. If nothing else, it’s fun to see how one’s teaching methods, styles and approaches have changed over the years. I’ve blogged about the feedback 2 years ago during my first semester at TP, but nothing that’s approached some sort of organized tracking.

So, since I think I’m gonna be in the education service for at least a few more decades, I figured I better start keeping them. There’s certainly no excuse, what with so much of the comments made by my students already in digitized form.

Here’re some of the nicest things my Software Engineering class from Oct last year said. A sample from written surveys:

“Straight to the point, fast, never waste time.”

“Very well-spoken & enthusiastic in teaching. Passionate.”

“Everything is in his head. Raps better than Jay Chou.” – really LOL…?!

“Knows the subject exceptionally well.”

And their comments for improvement:

“Talk slowly.”

“Talk slower.”

“Talk slower so that students can catch what you are saying.”

“Might be better if you slow down a bit. But overall, it was OK.”

“Sometimes too fast.”

And from the close-door dialog between students and faculty management, summarized by the session recorder:

“Students commented that Dr. Foo Chek Yang challenged them. He may be of high standard and has high expectation but students understand where he comes from.”

Talking fast is a sort of fossilized habit. Funnily though since last year I’ve consciously been trying to speak slowly in lectures, and doing my Tasks of the Day slides during each practical class so if students miss what I said, it’s still there on the screen. I wonder if it’s to do with the subject matter though, because the students manage just fine when we’re in idle banter. It was a great first term of the semester from Oct to Dec 2008 though; I had two classes which I liked a lot and enjoyed teaching.

But still… OK, must… speak… slower…. during lessons!